Earth Day provides a great opportunity for us as an airline to reflect on the importance of sustainability efforts in our industry. We’re proud to say we’ve made a lot of progress in recent years, yet remain aware of the work still ahead of us.
What do our current efforts look like? We have a broad array of sustainability efforts helping us toward our goal of operating an environmentally responsible airline. One of the most visible, because it happens right before your eyes, is our in-flight recycling effort.
Our program, launched in 2007, diverts aluminum cans, plastic cups, plastic bottles, newspapers and magazines collected on board our aircraft from landfills in 26 U.S. cities. And we’re happy to report our dedicated flight attendants, catering staff and cabin service employees successfully recycled 554 tons of material last year!
We also have a lot of programs that you don’t see, like a waste minimization program on the ground. And the numbers add up! Last year, for example, our employees recycled nearly 600 tons of waste at our headquarters here in Atlanta.
We know we have a long way to go before we achieve our goal of operating an environmentally-responsible airline, but with our dedicated employees and customers leading the way, we’re seeing significant improvements every year in our fuel efficiency, reductions in carbon emissions and recycling efforts.
So let’s take a moment today to acknowledge the progress we’ve made, while always mindful of the work ahead of us.
Helen Howes
Managing Director, Safety, Health and Environment
April 26th, 2011 at 11:02 am
delta airlines is a terrific airline i enjoyn it more than cathy pacific and saying alot….is it true the perks are so great…i wonder..i’m looking for job
April 27th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
I fly on your airline every week and I must say I am terribly disappointed with your “progress”. If you are truly concerned about the earth and being environmentally responsible then why are you price gouging cyclists trying to transport their bicycles from city to city? Do you realize that your policy charges $200 EACH WAY even for a domestic flight? That is insanity! Because of this you have been rated among the most anti-cyclist airlines in existence! Proud of that title? Is that a green approach? Why don’t you decide as an organization to support the positive efforts that your customers are making to improve the environment and lower dependency on fuel? Cant set aside your greed long enough to consider it? You want to be recognized for your green efforts? Try supporting those customers that care enough about the environment to make a difference themselves. Oh, well I’m sure this comment won’t change anything and good ole corporate greed will prevail.